Method and system for providing an image vector-based traffic information

ABSTRACT

A system and method for providing an image-based traffic information are disclosed. A plurality of time-variant real entities are converted into time-variant image vector entities and the attribute-designating statement of the time-variant image vector entity is determined based on a traffic information. Also, a plurality of time-invariant real entities are converted into a plurality of time-invariant image vector entities which constitutes a basic map. A traffic information map including at least said traffic state map is transmitted to a user device via a communication network. At user device, a basic image in accordance with the basic map is displayed on a screen of the user device and a traffic state image in accordance with the traffic state map is cumulatively displayed on the basic image.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a traffic information providing servicemethod and system, and in particular, to a method and a system forproviding an image vector-based traffic information.

BACKGROUND ART

Presently, the environment problems and the oil wasteful consumptioncaused by the traffic congestion become serious in our country andfurther the cost for transportation is increased in geometrical. Thus,the optimization in traffic flow is earnestly required. Even though theconstruction of roads may be the substantial solution for trafficproblem, it requires the tremendous cost. Accordingly, it is desirableto find a method for efficiently using the roads currently provided.

There is disclosed a conventional method for providing an image-basedtraffic information, which introduces nodes. For this method, bit-mapbased images are stored in the user terminal and the node database mustbe also stored in the user terminal. The transmitting side (or server)sends the traffic information in text along with the corresponding nodenumbers. Also, the receiving side (or user terminal) updates the nodedatabase in accordance with the received traffic information and nodenumbers and generates an image in accordance with the content of nodedatabase. However, since the node database requires a large quantity ofmemory and the processing for generation of the image also requires arelatively large number of operations, the user terminal is very complexand thus the cost for manufacturing becomes high, resulting inpreventing the method from being popularized. Also, it is difficult thatthe bitmap-based images of the user terminal are replaced with anotherone as necessary since the size of the images are too big to betransmitted. Further, adding and/or deleting of a node may need tochange the composition of the node database and thus it is notconvenient for both a user and an information provider. In summary, theconventional method is prodigal.

In addition, the conventional method has the problem that, when thenumber of the nodes is large, it is difficult to assign node numbers torespective roads and to maintain the standard therefor.

Also, other conventional methods for transmitting the trafficinformation in text or in voice type are disclosed. The former methodhas the problem that a large quantity of data transmission should bemade. The latter method has the problem that a relatively long time isrequired for user to acquire an interested traffic information and thistype of traffic information is not easy to understand overall trafficsituation.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a methodand a system for providing an image-based traffic information, capableof reducing the bandwidth for transmission and displaying the trafficinformation in a good quality of image.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and asystem for providing an image-based traffic information, which can beeasily managed. Also, the method and the system of this invention do notneed the node management and thus has relatively simple composition.This method and system can be implemented in both simplex transmissionnetwork and duplex transmission network.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a userdevice for displaying an image-based information that can be alsosearched.

The present invention also provides a program storage device to performsuch methods.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided with a method of providing an image-based traffic informationin a region having at least one time-variant real entity, comprising thesteps of: converting the time-variant real entity into a time-variantimage vector entity; generating an attribute-designating statement ofthe time-variant image vector entity based on a traffic information soas to form a traffic state map; transmitting the traffic state map to auser device via a communication network; and displaying an image inaccordance with the traffic state map on a screen of the user device.The attribute-designating statement of the time-variant image vector maybe a color designating statement. The time-variant real entity is a roadand the color designating statement is determined in accordance with avelocity on the road, in one preferred embodiment.

The time-variant image vector entity of the traffic state map mayinclude the attribute-designating statement, a shape-designatingstatement and a position-designating statement. Theattribute-designating statement is composed of an attribute-designatingcommand and an attribute value.

According to preferred embodiments, the method further comprises thestep of compressing the traffic state map such that two time-variantimage vector entities for one road are converted into one complextime-variant image vector entity composed of one attribute-designating,two attribute values, a shape-designating statement and aposition-designating statement, wherein one of the two time-variantimage vector entities is for forward direction and the other is forbackward direction of the road.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of providing an image-based traffic information in aregion having at least one time-variant real entity, comprising thesteps of: converting the time-variant real entity into a time-variantimage vector entity; generating an attribute-designating statement ofthe time-variant image vector entity based on a traffic information soas to form a traffic state map; converting a plurality of time-invariantreal entities into a plurality of time-invariant image vector entities,wherein the plurality of time-invariant real entities are also includedin the region; forming at least one basic map using the plurality oftime-invariant image vector entities; forming a traffic information mapwhich includes at least the traffic state map; transmitting the trafficinformation map to a user device via a communication network; displayinga first image in accordance with the basic map on a screen of the userdevice; and displaying a second image in accordance with the trafficstate map, the second image being cumulatively displayed on the firstimage.

The method may further comprise the step of compressing the trafficstate map such that two time-variant image vector entities for one roadare converted into one complex time-variant image vector entity composedof one attribute-designating, two attribute values, a shape-designatingstatement and a position-designating statement, wherein one of the twotime-variant image vector entities is for forward direction and theother is for backward direction of the road.

In one preferred embodiment, the traffic information map furtherincludes the basic map. The time-variant image vector entity of thebasic map may include the attribute-designating statement, ashape-designating statement and a position-designating statement. Also,the attribute-designating statement is composed of anattribute-designating command and an attribute value. In this case, theattribute-designating command is functioned as a delimiter fordiscerning between the time-invariant image vector entities.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the basic mapis stored in the user device.

The method may further comprise the steps of: retrieving at least onetext information related to the region; converting the text informationinto a text-shape image vector entity; and displaying a third image inaccordance with the text-shape image vector entity on the screen of theuser device, the third image being also displayed cumulatively on boththe first image and the second image. Also, the traffic information mapmay further include the text-shape image vector entity.

The steps of retrieving at least one text information related to theregion and converting the text information into a text-shape imagevector entity, are performed at either providing server side or the userdevice side.

The basic map may further include a field of ‘layer level’ representingthe necessity to be displayed. In this case, the method furthercomprising the steps of: determining a user's layer level; and comparingthe field of ‘layer level’ of the basic map with the user's layer levelso as to determine whether the basic map is required to be displayed.Also, the step of displaying a first image is performed in accordancewith only the basic map required to be displayed.

The method according may further comprise the steps of: dividing thetraffic information map into a plurality of packets having apredetermined size; forming a plurality of blocks each of which iscomposed of a predetermined number of packets; and adding blockidentifications to the plurality of blocks, respectively. Here, the stepof transmitting the traffic information map is performed by transmittingthe plurality of blocks.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a method of providing an image-based information of aregion, comprising the steps of: converting a plurality oftime-invariant real entities into a plurality of time-invariant imagevector entities, wherein the plurality of time-invariant real entitiesare included in the region; retrieving at least one text informationrelated to the region; converting the text information into a text-shapeimage vector entity; displaying a first image in accordance with theplurality of time-invariant image vector entities on a screen of theuser device; and displaying a second image in accordance with thetext-shape image vector entity on the screen of the user device, thesecond image being displayed cumulatively on the first image.

The present invention also provides a system of providing an image-basedtraffic information in a region, comprising: a time-variant componentslist database including a plurality of time-variant component lists eachof which has at least one time-variant real entity in a specifiedregion; a conversion table representing correspondences of time-variantreal entities and an time-variant image vector entities; means forgenerating a traffic state map by converting the time-variant realentity included in a specified region into the time-variant image vectorentity using the conversion table and by generating anattribute-designating statement of the time-variant image vector entitybased on a traffic information; and means for transmitting the trafficstate map to a user device via a communication network.

The system may further comprise a basic maps database for storing aplurality of basic maps each of which is composed of a plurality oftime-invariant image vector entities, wherein each of time-invariantreal entities included in the region is represented by at least onetime-invariant image vector entity.

In addition, the system may further comprise an additive informationdatabase for storing a plurality of text information and correspondingposition data. The system may include means for converting the textinformation and corresponding position data into a text-shape imagevector entity. Also, the system may further include a map list databasefor storing a plurality of map identification and corresponding coveredrange data.

Also, the system may further comprises means for producing a trafficinformation map using at least the traffic state map; a trafficinformation maps database for storing the traffic information map; andmeans for transmitting the traffic information map on a user's request.

According to still yet another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a user device for displaying an image-based trafficinformation, comprising: a screen; means for receiving a trafficinformation map from a traffic information providing server via anetwork, wherein the traffic information map includes at least a trafficstate map composed of at least one time-variant image vector entity andan attribute-designating statement of the time-variant image vectorentity is determined in accordance with a traffic information related tocorresponding real entity; and means for displaying a first image inaccordance with a basic map which is composed of a plurality oftime-invariant image vector entities included in a specified region andfor displaying a second image in accordance with the traffic state mapon the screen, the second image being cumulatively displayed on thefirst image.

In preferred embodiment, the user device further comprises an inputmeans for inputting a user's command including a region selectioncommand.

Alternatively, the user device further comprises a basic maps databasefor storing a plurality of basic maps, an additive information databasefor storing a plurality of text information and corresponding positiondata, means for converting the text information and correspondingposition data into a text-shape image vector entity, and a map listdatabase for storing a plurality of map identification and correspondingcovered range data.

The present invention also provides a user device for displaying animage-based information, comprising: a screen; an input means forinputting a user's command including a position name to be wanted toknow; an additive information database for storing a plurality ofadditive information each of which is composed of a text string and aposition data; means for retrieving one additive information based onthe user's command; a basic maps database for storing a plurality ofbasic maps each of which is composed of a plurality of time-invariantimage vector entities, wherein each of time-invariant real entitiesincluded in a region is represented by at least one time-invariant imagevector entity; means for selecting at least one basic map in accordancewith the retrieved additive information; means for displaying a firstimage based on the selected basic map; and means for displaying a secondimage based on the selected additive information. This user devicefurther comprises means for converting the selected additive informationinto a text-shape image vector entity.

According to still yet another aspect of the invention, there isprovided a method for displaying an image-based traffic informationcomprising the steps of: receiving a traffic information map whichincludes at least a traffic state map, the traffic state map includes aplurality of time-variant image vector entities in a specified regionand each of the time-variant image vector entity includes anattribute-designating statement, an(a) shape-designating statement and aposition-designating statement; displaying a first image in accordancewith a basic map on a screen, the basic map includes a plurality oftime-invariant image vector entities in the specified region; anddisplaying a second image in accordance with the traffic state map suchthat the second image is cumulatively displayed on the first image.

In addition, the present invention provides program storage devicesreadable by a digital processing apparatus and tangibly embodying aprogram of instructions executable by the digital processing apparatusto perform above described methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and theadvantage thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A-1C are block diagrams of the traffic information providingsystem in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are detailed block diagrams of the trafficinformation converter 120, the traffic information transmitter 130 andthe user device 140, respectively, shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C inaccordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are detailed block diagrams of the traffic informationconverter 120 and the user device 140, in accordance with anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are detailed block diagrams of the traffic informationconverting/transmitting server 180 shown in FIG. 1B, in accordance withpreferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows an example of the text-based traffic information TBTI 201;

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate the preferred embodiments of the text-basedtraffic information database 202 shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 7A-7C are the construction of the time-variant components listdatabase 203, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 shows an example of the basic maps database 204;

FIG. 9 illustrates the construction of the additive information database205 in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of illustrating the map list database 206 inaccordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A-11E are the diagrams for illustrating the exemplary format ofTSM(Traffic State Map) in accordance with one preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 12A-12F are the diagrams for illustrating the format ofTIM(Traffic Information Map) in accordance with the preferredembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 13 shows the covered range of maps, each of which is denoted by thefields of ‘left uppermost position’ and ‘right lowest position’ shown inFIG. 10;

FIGS. 14A and 14B show data formats for IVBTI(Image Vector-Based TrafficInformation) to be transmitted through the communication network fromthe traffic information transmitter 130 (or the traffic informationconverting/transmitting server) to the user device 140;

FIG. 15 is a diagram for illustrating the packet transmission of TIM, inaccordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16A illustrates the format of the basic maps database 204 includingthe field of ‘layer level’;

FIG. 16B illustrates the configuration of the time-variant componentslist database 203 including the field of ‘layer level’, in anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 16C-16E show TIM formats in accordance with another preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an exemplary displayed screen according to this invention;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for illustrating an image-vector based trafficinformation providing method in accordance with one preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIGS. 19A-19E are flowcharts for illustrating the preferred processperformed by the user device in accordance with the present invention;and

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for illustrating a method for providing aimage-based additive information, in accordance with one preferredembodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Thesame elements in the drawings have the same reference numerals and thusthe cumulative explanation will be omitted for simplicity.

FIGS. 1A-1C are block diagrams of an traffic information providingsystem in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the traffic information providing system includesa traffic information collector 110, a traffic information converter120, a traffic information transmitter 130 and at least one user device140A, 140B and 140C (hereinafter reference numeral ‘140’ is used asrepresentative 140A, 140B, 140C . . . ).

The traffic information collector 110 collects traffic informations fromvarious sources, for example, a sensor disposed on a road, a CCTVdisposed above the road, a monitoring staff who is running on a road andso on. The traffic information collector 110 produces a text-basedtraffic information TBTI to the traffic information converter 120. Here,the traffic information collector 110 may be directly coupled to thetraffic information converter 120. Otherwise, the traffic informationcollector 110 may be indirectly coupled to the traffic informationconverter 120 via any kind of communication line, for example, a mobilecommunication network, an Internet, a public switching network and soon.

The traffic information converter 120 converts the text-based trafficinformation TBTI into a image vector-based traffic information, morespecifically, into a traffic state map TSM or a traffic information mapTIM. The traffic information map TIM may be composed of a traffic statemap TSM and at least one basic map.

The basic map is composed of time-invariant image vector entities, eachof which corresponds to a part or the entire of a real entity (e.g. amountain, a river, a building and so on).

Also, there are two kinds of basic map: primary basic map and additivebasic map, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

Each of the primary basic maps is composed of time-invariant imagevector entities that are mandatory when an image-based trafficinformation for a requested region is displayed on a screen of a user'sdevice. The mandatory time-invariant image vector entity represents, forexample, a mountain, a landmark building, a public organization, ariver, a bridge and so on.

Each of additive basic maps is composed of optional time-invariant imagevector entities.

In more detail, the time-invariant real entities such as a mountain, ariver, a building, a hospital, a post office, an office and so on may beclassified according to the necessity (i.e. a layer level) to bedisplayed on a screen of the user's device and/or the attribute thereof.

That is, the real entities to be mandatory for displaying can beclassified such that the corresponding image vector entities pertain toa primary basic map. Likewise, the optional time-invariant real entitiescan be classified such that their corresponding image vector entitiespertain to one of additive basic maps.

Also, the real entities necessary for a specific display (e.g. as is thecase that a user wishes to know the positions of hospitals or clinics)can be classified so as to correspond to one of the additive basic maps.

The basic map as described above may be stored in the trafficinformation converter 120. More preferably, the basic maps are stored inthe user device 140.

According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, thetime-invariant image vector entity for basic map can be represented byVideoTex format.

The traffic state map is composed of traffic state image vectorentities, each of which is time-variant. The traffic state image vectorentity is for example an image vector entity for representing a road,the color of which varies according to the velocity on the road.

Also, the time-variant image vector entity included in the traffic statemap can be represented by VideoTex format.

The traffic information transmitter 130 receives the traffic state mapor the traffic information map from the traffic information converter120 and provides it to the user device 140 with or without user request.The traffic information transmitter 130 has a communication functionfrom/to the user device and preferably has a storage for maintaining thetraffic information map or the traffic state map. Also, the link betweenthe traffic information transmitter 130 and the user device 140 may befor example, a paging communication network, a packet communicationnetwork, a mobile communication network, a broadcasting network, or anInternet. In addition, the traffic information transmitter 130 may becoupled to a conventional base station of mobile communication network,a BBS(Bulletin Board Services) server of packet communication networkand so on.

The user device 140 includes a screen for displaying an image basedtraffic information and a communication function for receiving thetraffic state map or the traffic information map from the trafficinformation transmitter. Thus, the user device 140 displays the imagebased traffic information based on the traffic information map or thetraffic state map. For this, the user device 140 may have the functionfor converting from the image vector-based traffic information into abitmap image-based traffic information. Also, when the user device 140receives only the traffic state map from the traffic informationtransmitter 130, the user device 140 stores at least one basic map andthus further includes a storage for storing the basic map.

It can be appreciated that a number of user devices can be coupled tothe traffic information transmitter 130 via a communication network.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the traffic information providing system includesa traffic information converting/transmitting server 180 whichincorporates the traffic information converter and the trafficinformation transmitter.

Further, referring to FIG. 1C, the traffic information providing systemincludes a plurality of traffic information transmitters 131, 132 and133, each of which in turn provides the traffic information map or thetraffic state map to user devices 140A, 140B, 140C, 140D, 140E and 140F.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are detailed block diagrams of the trafficinformation converter 120, the traffic information transmitter 130 andthe user device 140, respectively, shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C inaccordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the traffic information converter 120 includes aconverting processor 207, a text-based traffic information database 202,a time-variant components list database 203, a basic maps database 204,an additive information database 205 and a map list database 206.

The converting processor 207 is coupled to the text-based trafficinformation database 202, the time-variant components list database 203,the basic maps database 204, the additive information database 205 andthe map list database 206.

The converting processor 207 receives the text-based traffic informationTBTI 201 from the traffic information collector 110 and produces animage vector based traffic information IVBTI 208 (i.e. TIM) to thetraffic information transmitter 130. The converting processor 207 mayreceive a query 209 from the traffic information transmitter 130, whichoriginates from the user device 140. The query 209 represents whichregion the user wishes to know the traffic information of.

The converting processor 207 updates the text-based traffic informationdatabase 202 using the text-based traffic information TBTI 201.

While the text-based traffic information database 202 is depicted asbeing located within the traffic information converter 120 in thisembodiment, it may be located in the traffic information collector 110in another embodiment. In this case, the query 209 may be transferred upto the traffic information collector 110 so that the traffic informationcollector 110 should produce only the text-based traffic informationrequested by the user.

Here, referring to FIGS. 5-9, the text-based traffic information TBTI201, the text-based traffic information database 202, time-variantcomponents list database 203, basic maps database 204, the additiveinformation database 205 and the map list database 206 will beexplained.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the text-based traffic information TBTI 201,which is composed of the fields of ‘real entity’, ‘forward velocity’,‘traffic accident’, ‘update time’ and so on. The ‘real entity’ fieldrepresents the name of real entity, for example, ROAD “XX” and the‘forward velocity’ field represents the velocity on the road. The‘traffic accident’ field represents whether any traffic accident occurson the road or not and the ‘update time’ field represents the time whenthe latest updating is performed.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate the preferred embodiments of the text-basedtraffic information database 202 shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A.

In FIG. 6A, the text-based traffic information database 202 is composedof ‘real entity’, ‘image vector entity’, ‘forward velocity’, ‘trafficaccident’ and ‘update time’.

The ‘image vector entity’ field includes at least one image vectorentity corresponding to the real entity. For example, the road “XX” canbe represented by a line vector which starts at position ‘P1’ and endsat position ‘P2’. Alternatively, one real entity can be represented bytwo or more image vectors. For example, the road “XX” can be representedby two line vectors connected to each other. Like this, the real entitycan be represented by at least one image vector. The image vector may bea line, an arc, a point, a curve, a text string, and so on. The ‘shape’statement in the ‘image vector entity’ field represents the kind of theimage vector(e.g. a line) and the ‘position’ statement represents theposition of the image vector. The position statement in the image vectorentity of the text-based traffic information database 202 is preferablyrepresented by absolute coordinate (e.g. the coordinate in GPS system).

In FIG. 6B, each field of ‘velocity’, ‘traffic accident’ and ‘updatetime’ are divided into two fields: ‘forward’ and ‘backward’. Thisstructure is designed upon that there are two directions on a road ingeneral.

Referring to FIGS. 6C and 6D, the text-based traffic informationdatabase 202 further includes the field of ‘entity ID(EntityIdentification), compared with FIGS. 6A and 6B, respectively.

As known in FIGS. 6A-6D, it will be appreciated that the text-basedtraffic information database 202 has two functions: conversion tablefunction(real entity →image vector entity) and traffic informationmanagement function.

The time-variant components list database 203 can be constructed asshown in FIGS. 7A-7C.

In FIG. 7A, the time-variant components list database 203 includes thefields of ‘map ID’ and ‘real entities included’. The ‘real entitiesincluded’ field represents the time-variant real entities included inthe area specified by corresponding ‘map ID’.

In FIG. 7B, the time-variant components list database 203 includes thefields of ‘map ID’ and ‘image vector entities included’. The ‘imagevector entities included’ field represents the time-variant image vectorentities included in the area specified by corresponding ‘map ID’.

In FIG. 7C, the time-variant components list database 203 may includethe fields of ‘map ID’ and ‘entity IDs included’. The ‘entity IDsincluded’ field represents the entity IDs(identifications) thatcorresponds to the real entities included in the area specified bycorresponding ‘map ID’. For this, it is necessary that the text-basedtraffic information database 202 should include the field of ‘entity ID’as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the basic maps database 204 which includesthe fields of ‘map ID’ and ‘time-invariant image vector entitiesincluded’. In FIG. 8, the ‘map ID’ is substantially the same with thatof time-variant components list database 203 shown in FIGS. 7A-7C. Thefield of ‘time-invariant image vector entities included’ includes atleast one TIIVE(Time-Invariant Image Vector Entity) included in thecovered area of the map. For example, MAP-1(i.e. the map of which ‘mapID’ is ‘1’) includes TIIVE1(composed of ATTRIBUTE(A1), SHAPE(S2) andPOSITION(P5, P6)) and TIIVE2(composed of ATTRIBUTE(A2), SHAPE(S3) andPOSITION(P7, P8)).

FIG. 9 illustrates the construction of the additive information database205 in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, in which the additive information database 205 includes thefields of ‘text string’ and ‘position’. Here ‘position’ field ispreferably represented by absolute coordinate and denotes the positionat which the text string is displayed. It is noted that the image of‘Han’ river is stored in the ‘time-invariant image vector entitiesincluded’ field of the basic maps database 204 (since a river is atime-invariant real entity) while the text string of ‘HAN RIVER’ isstored in the additive information database 205.

Such text string and corresponding position data of additive informationdatabase 205 are converted into text-shape image vector entity by theconverting processor 207. Alternatively, this conversion can beperformed by the user device 140.

In accordance with another embodiment, the text string of ‘HAN RIVER’can be also stored in the basic maps database 204 as an image vector.

Though the text string of additive information database 205 is atime-invariant real entity, it is also required to be searched. Thus,the text type real entity(e.g. the text strings of ‘city hall’, ‘Seouluniversity general hospital’, ‘central post office’, ‘Seung-Dongfire-brigade station’ and so on) is included in the additive informationdatabase 205.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of illustrating the map list database 206 inaccordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the map list database 206 includes the fields of ‘map ID’, ‘leftuppermost position’ and ‘right lowest position’.

Here, the field of ‘map ID’ is the same with that of the time-variantcomponents list database 203 and the basic maps database 204. The fieldsof ‘left uppermost position’ and ‘right lowest position’ represent thecovered range of the map designated by the ‘map ID’ and is preferablydenoted by absolute coordinates. The covered range is the rectangulararea having the left uppermost point and the right lowest pointdesignated by the fields of ‘left uppermost position’ and ‘right lowestposition’.

FIG. 13 shows the covered range of maps, each of which is denoted by thefields of ‘left uppermost position’ and ‘right lowest position’ shown inFIG. 10. In FIG. 13, the covered range of the MAP-1 is the rectangulararea determined by two corner points (X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2). Likewise,the covered range of the MAP-2 is the rectangular area determined by thepoints (X3, Y3) and (X4, Y4) and the covered range of the MAP-3 is therectangular area determined by two corner points (X5, Y5) and (X6, Y6).

The covered range of the map can be represented by other conventionalmethods.

Return to FIG. 2A, the converting processor 207 generates a trafficstate map using the text-based traffic information database 202 and thetime-variant components list database 203.

First, the converting processor 207 analyses the query 209 from the userand then selects one map (i.e. produces one map ID) in the map listdatabase 206 such that the selected map should cover the region the userwants. This process can be omitted in the one-way transmission serviceexplained later.

Then the converting processor 207 retrieves ‘real entities’, ‘imagevector entities’ or ‘entity IDs’ included in the selected map from thetime-variant components list database 203. Subsequently, the convertingprocessor 207 converts the real entities into image vector entitiesusing the text-based traffic information database 202 as shown in FIGS.6A-6D. Here, the attribute of the image vector entity is preferablydetermined based on the ‘forward velocity’ field. When any trafficaccident occurs on a road included in the selected map, the convertingprocessor 207 generates a special image vector entity (which ispredetermined as a traffic accident mark) disposed on the road.

Here, the position of the image vector entity is preferably representedby relative coordinates within the selected map. Thus, the generation oftraffic state map preferably includes the process of coordinateconversion of the image vector entity.

FIGS. 11A-11E are the diagrams for illustrating the exemplary format ofTSM(Traffic State Map) in accordance with one preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11A, TSM includes a plurality of Time-Variant ImageVector Entities TVIVE1, TVIVE2, TVIVE3, TVIVE4 and so on. In FIG. 11B,the TVIVE(Time-Variant Image Vector Entity) includes anattribute-designating statement, a shape-designating statement and aposition-designating statement. Here, the attribute is for example acolor, a brightness or a pattern.

Most of the time-variant real entities are roads which can berepresented by line image vectors. Thus, most of the shape-designatingstatement in TVIVE are the same (i.e. ‘line’). In this case, TSM can beefficiently compressed as shown in FIG. 11C. In FIG. 11C, ATT1 and ATT2represent attribute-designating statements, S1 represents ashape-designating statement and P1,P2,P3 and P4 represent positioncoordinates. Here, the position-designating statement includes one ormore position coordinates. For example, the shape-designating statementof ‘line’ may requires two position coordinates: a start positioncoordinate and an end position coordinate. Also, in FIG. 11C, the ATT1,S1, P1 and P2 constitute one TVIVE and ATT2, P3 and P4 constituteanother TVIVE. When the compressed-TSM shown in FIG. 11C is received inthe user device, the second TVIVE (including ATT2, P3 and P4) isprocessed using the previous shape-designating statement (i.e. ‘S1’).

The attribute-designating statement is preferably composed of two parts:ADC(Attribute-Designating Command) and C(attribute content, e.g. color)as shown in FIG. 11D. Here, the color is preferably determined accordingto the velocity on the corresponding road (i.e. the average velocity ofa car running the road). The ADC is for example ‘set color’ command or‘select color’ command. Preferably, the ADC can be used as a delimiterwhich discriminates between TVIVEs.

Referring to FIG. 11E, a method for compressing TVIVE will be explained.As mentioned above, there are two directions (forward and backward) in aroad. While the velocity(i.e. ‘color’) can be different from each other,they have much similarity in shape and position. Thus, TVIVEs of theforward direction road and the backward direction road can be compressedas shown in FIG. 11E. The compressed-TVIVE includes anattribute-designating statement composed of an ADC and two Colors C1 andC2; a shape-designating statement S1; and a position-designatingstatement composed of two position coordinates P1 and P2.

Referring back to FIG. 2A, the converting processor 207 retrieves therequested information from the additive information database 205 that ispreferably included in the selected map. Then, the converting processor207 generates an additive information image vector using the text stringand the corresponding position of the retrieved information (see FIG.9). This conversion also includes a coordinate conversion of absolutecoordinate into relative coordinate within the selected map. Here, theshape-designating statement of the additive information image vector ispreferably ‘text’ and the size thereof may be determined by user orautomatically.

As described above, the additive information database 205 supports asearch function. When a user wants to know the hospitals' position in aregion, the searching of ‘hospital’ is performed in the additiveinformation database 205.

It is well appreciated to those in this art that for simplicity theadditive information database 205 can be omitted (that is, it isoptional).

FIGS. 12A-12F are the diagrams for illustrating the format ofTIM(Traffic Information Map) in accordance with the preferredembodiments of the present invention.

In FIG. 12A, TIM includes a header, a basic map and a traffic state map.The header may include for example a TIM type, a resolution and so on.The TIM of FIG. 12B includes a header and a TSM. This type of TIM issuitable for the case that the basic map is stored in the user device140. The header of TIM shown in FIG. 12B preferably includes the map ID,which is in turn used for retrieving suitable basic map stored in theuser device. Alternatively, if the header does not include ‘map ID’, theTIM is added with the position values representing the covered range ofBM and/or TSM and these position values can be represented as absolutecoordinates such as GPS coordinates.

Referring to FIG. 12C, TIM further includes AIIVEs(Additive InformationImage Vector Entities) compared with that of FIG. 12A. The AIIVEs areoriginated from the retrieved ones in the additive information database205. In FIG. 12D, AIIVEs are located between BM(Basic Map) andTSM(Traffic State Map), while AIIVEs follow TSM in FIG. 12C.

In FIGS. 12E and 12F, TIM further includes AIIVEs, compared with that ofFIG. 12B. In FIG. 12E, AIIVEs are disposed at the end of TSM, while theyare located between the header and TSM in FIG. 12F. The TIMs shown inFIGS. 12E and 12F are also suitable for the case that the basic map isstored in the user device 140.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the traffic information transmitter 130 will beexplained. The traffic information transmitter 130 includes atransmitting processor 210 and a traffic information maps database 213.The traffic information maps database 213 is optional. The transmittingprocessor 210 receives the IVBTI(i. e. TIM) from the traffic informationconverter 120 and sends the query 209 to the traffic informationconverter 120. Also, the transmitting processor 210 sends an IVBTI or aC-IVBTI(Compressed-IVBTI) to the user device 140 via a communicationnetwork such as a mobile communication network or an Internet. Thecompressed-IVBTI(or compressed-TIM) may be acquired by conventionaldata-compression of TIM.

Also, it is well known to those in this art that a conventional errorcorrection coding or a channel coding can be performed with respect toTIM by the transmitting processor 210.

The query 212 is substantially the same with the query 209, but this canbe little different from that in format as necessary. In the case thatthe link between the traffic information transmitter and the user deviceis one-way communication network, the query 212 can be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the user device 140 includes a processor 220, ascreen 222 and a user input 224. The processor 220 has a communicationfunction at least for receiving the VBTI or C-IVBTI from the trafficinformation transmitter through a network. Further, it is preferablethat it could transmit the query 212 to the traffic informationtransmitter 130.

The user input 224 is for inputting user's command, especially theregion designation command which represents the region the user wants toknow. The processor 220 also has an data analyzing function, a dataconversion function as necessary (e. g. the conversion of image-vectorentity into bit-map image) and a displaying function.

The processor 220 first displays a basic map image on the screen 222 inaccordance with the BM(Basic Map) and then a TSM image is cumulativelydisplayed(i. e. overwritten) on the BM image in accordance with the TSM.In other words, some part of the image on the screen are updated by TSMimage.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are detailed block diagrams of the traffic informationconverter 120 and the user device 140, in accordance with anotherpreferred embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the traffic information converter 120 includes thetext-based traffic information database 202, the time-variant componentslist database 203 and the converting processor 207. Meanwhile the userdevice 140 in FIG. 3B further includes the basic maps database 204, theadditive information database 205 and the map list database 206,compared with that shown in FIG. 2C. In this embodiment, the trafficinformation transmitter 130 may be implemented with that shown in FIG.2B.

Since the basic maps database 204, the additive information database 205and the map list database 206 are substantially time-invariant, they maybe stored in the user device when manufacturing. Also, the basic mapsdatabase 204 is updated, for example, by replacing the correspondingstorage(for storing the basic maps database 204) or preferably bydownloading periodically a new basic map via communication network fromthe traffic information converter. The updating of the additiveinformation database 205 and the map list database 206 may be performedsimilarly to that of the basic maps database 204.

According to still another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the basic maps database 204, the additive informationdatabase 205 and the map list database 206 are located in both thetraffic information converter 120 and the user device 140.

FIG. 4A is a detailed block diagram of the traffic informationconverting/transmitting server 180 shown in FIG. 1B, in accordance withone preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The traffic information converting/transmitting server 180 in FIG. 4Aincludes a converting/transmitting processor 232, the text-based trafficinformation database 202, the time-variant components list database 203,the basic maps database 204, the additive information database 205, themap list database 206 and the traffic information maps database 213. Theconverting/transmitting processor 232 is coupled to the text-basedtraffic information database 202, the time-variant components listdatabase 203, the basic maps database 204, the additive informationdatabase 205, the map list database 206 and the traffic information mapsdatabase 213 and thus performs updating the text-based trafficinformation database 202, the generation of TSM, TIM and AIIVEs, and theanalysis of the query 212 originated from the user device.

In FIG. 4B, the traffic information converting/transmitting server 180includes the converting/transmitting processor 232, the trafficinformation maps database 213, the text-based traffic informationdatabase 202 and the time-variant components list database 203. In thiscase, it is preferable that the user device 140 should have theconfiguration shown in FIG. 3B. In other words, the user device 140preferably has the basic maps database 204, the additive informationdatabase 205 and the map list database 206.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show a data format for IVBTI(Image Vector-BasedTraffic Information) to be transmitted through the communication networkfrom the traffic information transmitter 130 (or the traffic informationconverting/transmitting server) to the user device 140.

As shown in FIG. 14A, the TIM is divided into plurals and one or moreMDS's(Map Description Statements) are interposed between the dividedTIMs. The MDS may have the format shown in FIG. 14B, in which the MDSincludes the fields of ‘data name’, ‘data description’ and ‘data size’.Such MDS can be used in the user device 140 for identifying the receiveddata, especially when some of IVBTI(Image Vector-Based TrafficInformation) has been lost during transmission, for example, due to thepropagation hindrance of a mountain.

FIG. 15 is for illustrating the packet transmission of TIM, inaccordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 15, TIM is divided into a plurality of packets havingthe same size. Each packet has own packet number and a predeterminednumber(e. g. ‘n’) of packets constitute a block. Each block also has ownblock ID(identification). For transmission, the MAP ID is further addedto respective block and thus it is used by the user device 140 foridentifying the covered region of the IVBTI.

Preferably, BM, TSM, TIM and/or AI(Additive Information) may have alayer level that represents the necessity for display, and thus the userdevice 140 displays only BM, TSM, TIM and/or AI having the desired layerlevel.

FIG. 16A illustrates the format of the basic maps database 204 includingthe field of ‘layer level’. As shown in FIG. 16A, the time-invariantimage vector entities included in the covered range of the MAP-1(ofwhich map ID is ‘1’) are classified into multiple groups (e. g. twogroups), each of which has different layer level. For example, in theMAP-1, TIIVE1 (composed of ATTRIBUTE(A1), SHAPE(S2) and POSITION(P5,P6)), TIIVE2 (composed of, ATTRIBUTE(A2), SHAPE(S3) and POSITION(P7,P8)) and so on pertain to the layer level of ‘1’, while TIIVE3(composedof ATTRIBUTE(A2), SHAPE(S3) and POSITION(P21, P22)) and so on pertain tothe layer level of ‘2’. Here, the basic map composed of TIIVEs of layerlevel ‘1’ may be called as ‘primary basic map’ and the other basic mapsmay be called as ‘additive basic map’.

Referring to FIG. 16B, the time-variant components list database 203further includes the field of ‘layer level’. Similarly, the time-variantreal entities included in the covered range of the MAP-1 are classifiedinto multiple groups(e. g. two groups) having different layer levels.

For example, in the MAP-1, ROAD “XX”, ROAD “XY” and ROAD “XY” . . . areincluded in the layer level of ‘1’, while ROAD “Y1”, ROAD “Y2” and ROAD“Y3” . . . are included in the layer level of ‘2’. Here, thetime-variant real entities having layer level ‘1’ are converted intoTVIVEs of a basic traffic state map.

FIGS. 16C-16E show TIM formats in accordance with another preferredembodiments of the present invention.

In FIG. 16C, TIM includes a header part, a basic map part and a trafficstate map part. The basic map is composed of multiple pairs of layerlevel and corresponding basic map (LL1,BM1), (LL2, BM2) and (LL3, BM3).

Alternatively, in FIG. 16D, TIM includes a header and multiple trios(LL1, BM1, TSM1), (LL2, BM2, TSM2), (LL3(1), BM3(1), TSM3(1)), . . .each of which is composed of a LL(layer level), a BM(basic map) and aTSM(traffic state map).

Referring to FIG. 16E, TIM includes a header and a TSM(traffic statemap) part which is composed of multiple pairs (LL1, TSM1), (LL2, TSM2),(LL3, TSM3) and so on. In FIG. 16E, each pair is composed of a layerlevel and a TSM.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for illustrating an image-vector based trafficinformation providing method in accordance with one preferred embodimentof the present invention.

At step 1801, the text-based traffic information is collected by thetraffic information collector 110, and then at step 1802 it is used toupdate the text-based traffic information database. It should be notedthat these two steps 1801 and 1802 may be replaced with other trafficinformation collecting processes.

At step 1803, a traffic state map is generated by converting a realentity(especially time-variant real entity included in a specific range)into an image vector entity. Here, the attribute of the image vectorentity is preferably determined in accordance with the trafficinformation related to the real entity. Then, a traffic information mapis formed using the traffic state map and a corresponding basic map.Alternatively, the traffic information map may be formed only using thetraffic state map along with ‘map-ID’.

The traffic information map is then transmitted to a user device througha communication network at step 1805. At 1806, the user device displaysan image for representing traffic information based on the trafficinformation map. In more detail, the user device displays an imageaccording to the basic map and then cumulatively displays another imageaccording to the traffic state map. Here, the basic map can be stored inthe user device, as mentioned above.

Alternatively, it is also possible that the image of TSM is firstdisplayed on a screen of the user device and then the image of BM isdisplayed.

FIG. 17 is an exemplary displayed screen according to this invention, inwhich the images of BM and TSM are displayed.

The step 1806 will be in detail explained with reference to FIGS.19A-19D each of which is a flowchart for illustrating the preferredprocess performed by the user device in accordance with the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 19A, the user device displays an image of BM in step1901 and then displays an image of TSM in step 1902. The BM may beincluded in the received TIM or stored in the user device. Also, thecovered ranges of the BM and the TSM are the same with each other andthe images of BM and TSM are cumulatively depicted on a screen of theuser device.

At step 1903, the user device displays an image of AI(AdditiveInformation) which may be included in the received TIM or stored in theuser device. The image of AI is also cumulative. That is, the image ofAI is overwritten only on the required part of the image of BM and TSM.In addition, in FIG. 19A, the steps of 1901-1903 can be performed indifferent order.

Referring to FIG. 19B, the user device displays an image of primarybasic map at step 1911 and then displays an image of Traffic State Mapat step 1912. Subsequently, at step 1913, the user device displays animage of additive basic map. Here, the number of additive basic map maybe one or more. Then, at step 1914, the user device displays an image ofadditive information. The display of the steps 1912-1914 is preferablycumulatively performed such that the images of PBM(Primary Basic Map),TSM, ABM(Additive Basic Map) and AI are simultaneously revealed on thescreen.

In still another embodiment shown in FIG. 19C, the user device displaysan image of PBM at step 1921 and then inputs an additive BM at step1923. Subsequently, at step 1924 it is checked whether the LL(layerlevel) of the inputted additive BM is required. If so, then the processproceeds to step 1925 so that it displays an image of the additive basicmap. If the check result of step 1924 is negative, the process proceedsto step 1926. In step 1926, it is determined whether any additive basicmap is left. If so, the process returns to step 1923. Otherwise, theprocess proceeds to step 1922, in which the user device displays animage of TSM. Subsequently, the user device inputs an additiveinformation(or additive information image vector) at step 1927 and thenchecks whether the LL(layer level) of the inputted AI(additiveinformation) is required at step 1928. If the check result of step 1928is positive, the process proceeds to step 1929 so as to display an imageof the additive information and then proceed to step 1930. Meanwhile, ifthe check result of step 1928 is negative, the process proceeds to step1930. In step 1930, it is determined whether any AI is left. If so, theprocess returns to step 1927. Otherwise, the process is ended.

FIG. 19D shows a detailed flowchart of step 1806 shown in FIG. 18, inaccordance with still another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

At step 1931, the user device displays an image of primary basic map andthen displays an image of traffic state map at step 1932. The step 1933is for determining whether any additive BM exists. If so, at step 1934the user device inputs the additive BM and otherwise, the processproceeds to step 1937. It is checked whether the LL(layer level) of theinputted additive BM is required(or selected by the user). In the caseof the check result of step 1935 is “yes”, the process proceeds to step1936 so as to display an image of the additive basic map. When the checkresult of step 1935 is “no”, the process returns to step 1933.

At step 1937, it is examined whether any additive information is left.If so, the process goes to step 1938 so as to input an additiveinformation and then advances to step 1939. When the result of the step1937 is negative, the process is completed.

The step 1939 is for checking whether the LL of the inputted additiveinformation is requested. When answer of step 1939 is “yes”, the processadvances to step 1940 so that an image for the additive information isdisplayed and then the process is returned to step 1937. If the answerof step 1939 is “no”, the process goes to step 1937.

Still another exemplary process flow for step 1806 will be consideredwith reference to FIG. 19E.

In FIG. 19E, the user device displays images based on the primary BM andprimary TSM at step 1941. Here, the primary TSM comes from the trafficinformation transmitter via a communication network and the PBM(primarybasic map) may come from the traffic information transmitter or bestored in a memory within the user device. Then at step 1942 the userdevice inputs an additive basic map and an additive traffic state map.Similarly, the additive TSM comes from the traffic informationtransmitter via a communication network and the ABM(additive basic map)may come from the traffic information transmitter or be stored in amemory within the user device. The step 1943 is for a determinationwhether the LL(layer level) of the inputted ABM(additive basic map) andATSM(additive traffic state map) is required. If so, the images of theABM and the ATSM are displayed at step 1944 and then the process goes tostep 1945. If the check result of step 1943 is negative, the processskips to step 1945.

In step 1945, the check whether any additive BM or any additive TSM areleft is performed. If so, the process is fed back to step 1942 andotherwise, the process goes to step 1946 in which the user device inputsan additive information. Then at step 1947 it is checked whether the LLof the inputted AI is selected. If so, an image for the inputted AI isdisplayed at step 1948 and then the process advances to the step 1949.If the answer of step 1947 is “no”, the process jumps to step 1949. Instep 1949, it is determined whether any additive information is left. Ifso, the process is returned to step 1946. When the check result of step1949 is negative, the process is halted.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for illustrating a method for providing aimage-based additive information, in accordance with one preferredembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 20, a user's request is inputted at step 2001. Theinput of the user's request is performed by a keyboard, a button key, atouch screen, and other input device. Subsequently, at step 2002, thesearching is performed to determine whether the AI(e. g. text string)corresponding to the user's request exists in the AID(AdditiveInformation Database) and to obtain (or read out) the position of therequested AI (see FIG. 10).

The step 2003 is for converting the AI into an image vector based AI (ortext-shaped image vector entity). Here, the text-shaped image vectorentity is an image vector having a ‘text’ of shape designatingstatement. Specifically, the text string of AI may be converted into animage vector whose shape is a predetermined size of ‘text’ image andwhose position is determined by the ‘position’ field of AI. In apreferred embodiment, the size of the text image can be controlled byuser.

The step 2004 is for selecting a suitable BM based on the position fieldof the AI. This selection is made such that the position of the AI existwithin the covered region of the BM. Then, the selected BM and theIVBAI(Image Vector Based Additive Information, that is AIIV(s)) aretransmitted from the transmitter to the user device. When the additiveinformation database 205 and the basic maps database 204 are located inthe user device, the step 2005 can be omitted(that is, it is optional).

Subsequently, the user device displays an image according to theselected BM at step 2006 and displays an image according to IVBAI (orAIIV(s)) at step 2007. Also, it is well appreciated that the steps 2006and 2007 can be altered in order.

In accordance with the present invention, the image-based trafficinformation service can be efficiently performed from the viewpoint ofcost and transmission bandwidth. Particularly, when BM(s) are stored inthe user device, the bandwidth requested is dramatically reduced,resulting in realizing a real-time interactive image-based trafficinformation service.

Also, the method for providing image-based traffic information of thepresent invention can be implemented using either one-way communicationnetwork such as a network for beeper (or pager).

The user device of the present invention can be implemented by simpleconstruction since the data to be handled by the user device isrelatively small, which results in reducing the cost for manufacturingthe user device.

In addition, the introduction of layer level into BM, TSM and/or AImakes it possible to increase the resolution of the displayed image andthe fineness of the displayed image can be controlled by user.

The separation AI from BM(even though both of them are substantiallycomposed of time-invariant entities) makes it possible to search aspecific kind of information such as hospital, government office orwell-known building. Moreover, when BM and/or AI are stored in the userdevice, they can be updated as necessary by downloading viacommunication network and this updating may be performed in periodicalor on the user's demand.

Also, the traffic information of the present invention is handled inimage vector entities so that scaling, rotation or scrolling is easilyperformed as necessary.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, various alternatives, modifications andequivalents may be used. Therefore, the foregoing description should notbe taken as limiting the scope of the present invention which is definedby the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the method, the system and the user device of thisinvention are used for providing a traffic information so as to maketraffic flows distributed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing an image-based trafficinformation in a region having at least one time-variant real entity,comprising the steps of: converting said time-variant real entity into atime-variant image vector entity; generating an attribute-designatingstatement of the time-variant image vector entity based on a trafficinformation so as to form a traffic state map; transmitting said trafficstate map to a user device via a communication network; and displayingan image in accordance with the traffic state map on a screen of theuser device.
 2. The method according to the claim 1, wherein saidattribute-designating statement of the time-variant image vector is acolor designating statement.
 3. The method according to the claim 2,wherein said time-variant real entity is a road and said colordesignating statement is determined in accordance with a velocity of theroad.
 4. The method according to the claim 1, wherein said time-variantimage vector entity of the traffic state map includes theattribute-designating statement, an shape-designating statement and aposition-designating statement.
 5. The method according to the claim 4,wherein said attribute-designating statement is composed of anattribute-designating command and an attribute value.
 6. The methodaccording to the claim 5, further comprising the step of compressingsaid traffic state map such that two time-variant image vector entitiesfor one road are converted into one complex time-variant image vectorentity composed of one attribute-designating, two attribute values, ashape-designating statement and a position-designating statement,wherein one of said two time-variant image vector entities is forforward direction and the other is for backward direction of the road.7. A method of providing an image-based traffic information in a regionhaving at least one time-variant real entity, comprising the steps of:converting said time-variant real entity into a time-variant imagevector entity; generating an attribute-designating statement of thetime-variant image vector entity based on a traffic information so as toform a traffic state map; converting a plurality of time-invariant realentities into a plurality of time-invariant image vector entities,wherein said plurality of time-invariant real entities are also includedin the region; forming at least one basic map using said plurality oftime-invariant image vector entities; forming a traffic information mapwhich includes at least said traffic state map; transmitting saidtraffic information map to a user device via a communication network;displaying a first image in accordance with said basic map on a screenof the user device; and displaying a second image in accordance withsaid traffic state map, said second image being cumulatively displayedon the first image.
 8. The method according to the claim 7, wherein saidattribute-designating statement of the time-variant image vector is acolor designating statement.
 9. The method according to the claim 7,wherein said time-variant image vector entity of the traffic state mapincludes the attribute-designating statement, an shape-designatingstatement and a position-designating statement.
 10. The method accordingto the claim 9, wherein said attribute-designating statement is composedof an attribute-designating command and an attribute value.
 11. Themethod according to the claim 10, further comprising the step ofcompressing said traffic state map such that two time-variant imagevector entities for one road are converted into one complex time-variantimage vector entity composed of one attribute-designating, two attributevalues, a shape-designating statement and a position-designatingstatement, wherein one of said two time-variant image vector entities isfor forward direction and the other is for backward direction of theroad.
 12. The method according to the claim 7, wherein said trafficinformation map further includes said basic map.
 13. The methodaccording to the claim 12, wherein said basic map is stored in the userdevice.
 14. The method according to the claim 12, wherein saidtime-variant image vector entity of the basic map includes theattribute-designating statement, an shape-designating statement and aposition-designating statement.
 15. The method according to the claim14, wherein said attribute-designating statement is composed of anattribute-designating command and an attribute value.
 16. The methodaccording to the claim 15, wherein said attribute-designating command isfunctioned as a delimiter or discerning between said time-invariantimage vector entities.
 17. The method according to the claim 7, furthercomprising the steps of: retrieving at least one text informationrelated to the region; converting said text information into atext-shape image vector entity; and displaying a third image inaccordance with said text-shape image vector entity on the screen of theuser device, said third image being also displayed cumulatively on boththe first image and the second image.
 18. The method according to theclaim 17, wherein said traffic information map further includes saidtext-shape image vector entity.
 19. The method according to the claim17, wherein said steps of retrieving at least one text informationrelated to the region and converting said text information into atext-shape image vector entity, are performed at the user device. 20.The method according to the claim 7, wherein said basic map includes afield of ‘layer level’ representing the necessity to be displayed, andsaid method further comprising the steps of: determining a user's layerlevel; and comparing the field of ‘layer level’ of said basic map withthe user's layer level so as to determine whether the basic map isrequired to be displayed, and wherein said step of displaying a firstimage is performed in accordance with only the basic map required to bedisplayed.
 21. The method according to the claim 7, further comprisingthe steps of: dividing said traffic information map into a plurality ofpackets having a predetermined size; forming a plurality of blocks eachof which is composed of a predetermined number of packets; and addingblock identifications to said plurality of blocks, respectively, whereinsaid step of transmitting the traffic information map is performed bytransmitting said plurality of blocks.
 22. A method of providing animage-based information of a region, comprising the steps of: convertinga plurality of time-invariant real entities into a plurality oftime-invariant image vector entities, said plurality of time-invariantreal entities being included in the region; retrieving at least one textinformation related to the region; converting said text information intoa text-shape image vector entity; displaying a first image in accordancewith said plurality of time-invariant image vector entities on a screenof the user device; and displaying a second image in accordance withsaid text-shape image vector entity on the screen of the user device,said second image being displayed cumulatively on the first image.
 23. Asystem of providing an image-based traffic information in a region,comprising: a time-variant components list database including aplurality of time-variant component lists each of which has at least onetime-variant real entity in a specified region; a conversion tablerepresenting correspondences of time-variant real entities and antime-variant image vector entities; means for generating a traffic statemap by converting the time-variant real entity included in a specifiedregion into the time-variant image vector entity using said conversiontable and by generating an attribute-designating statement of thetime-variant image vector entity based on a traffic information; andmeans for transmitting said traffic state map to a user device via acommunication network.
 24. The system according to the claim 23, whereinsaid time-variant image vector entity of the traffic state map includesthe attribute-designating statement, an shape-designating statement anda position-designating statement.
 25. The system according to the claim24, wherein said attribute-designating statement is composed of anattribute-designating command and an attribute value.
 26. The systemaccording to the claim 25, further comprising means for compressing saidtraffic state map such that two time-variant image vector entities forone road are converted into one complex time-variant image vector entitycomposed of one attribute-designating, two attribute values, ashape-designating statement and a position-designating statement,wherein one of said two time-variant image vector entities is forforward direction and the other is for backward direction of the road.27. The user device according to the claim 25, further comprising meansfor converting said selected additive information into a text-shapeimage vector entity.
 28. The system according to the claim 23, furthercomprising a basic maps database for storing a plurality of basic maps,each of which is composed of a plurality of time-invariant image vectorentities, wherein each of time-invariant real entities included in theregion is represented by at least one time-invariant image vectorentity.
 29. The system according to the claim 28, wherein saidtime-variant image vector entity of the basic map includes theattribute-designating statement, an shape-designating statement and aposition-designating statement.
 30. The system according to the claim29, wherein said attribute-designating statement is composed of anattribute-designating command and an attribute value.
 31. The systemaccording to the claim 30, wherein said attribute-designating command isfunctioned as a delimiter for discerning between said time-invariantimage vector entities.
 32. The system according to the claim 30, furthercomprising means for converting said text information and correspondingposition data into a text-shape image vector entity.
 33. The systemaccording to the claim 23, further comprising an additive informationdatabase for storing a plurality of text information and correspondingposition data.
 34. The system according to the claim 23, furthercomprising a map list database for storing a plurality of mapidentification and corresponding covered range data.
 35. The systemaccording to the claim 23, further comprising: means for producing atraffic information map using at least said traffic state map; a trafficinformation maps database for storing said traffic information map; andmeans for transmitting said traffic information map on a user's request.36. A user device for displaying an image-based traffic information,comprising: a screen; means for receiving a traffic information map froma traffic information providing server via a network, wherein saidtraffic information map includes at least a traffic state map composedof at least one time-variant image vector entity and anattribute-designating statement of said time-variant image vector entityis determined in accordance with a traffic information related tocorresponding real entity; and means for displaying a first image inaccordance with a basic map which is composed of a plurality oftime-invariant image vector entities included in a specified region andfor displaying a second image in accordance with said traffic state mapon said screen, said second image being cumulatively displayed on thefirst image.
 37. The user device according to the claim 36, furthercomprising an input means for inputting a user's command including aregion selection command.
 38. The user device according to the claim 37,further comprising a basic maps database for storing a plurality ofbasic maps.
 39. The user device according to the claim 37, furthercomprising an additive information database for storing a plurality oftext information and corresponding position data.
 40. The user deviceaccording to the claim 39, further comprising means for converting saidtext information and corresponding position data into a text-shape imagevector entity.
 41. The user device according to the claim 37, furthercomprising a map list database for storing a plurality of mapidentification and corresponding covered range data.
 42. A user devicefor displaying an image-based information, comprising: a screen; aninput means for inputting a user's command including a position name tobe wanted to know; an additive information database for storing aplurality of additive information, each of which is composed of a textstring and a position data; means for retrieving one additiveinformation based on the user's command; a basic maps database forstoring a plurality of basic maps each of which is composed of aplurality of time-invariant image vector entities, wherein each oftime-invariant real entities included in a region is represented by atleast one time-invariant image vector entity; means for selecting atleast one basic map in accordance with the retrieved additiveinformation; means for displaying a first image based on the selectedbasic map; and means for displaying a second image based on the selectedadditive information.
 43. A program storage device readable by a digitalprocessing apparatus and tangibly embodying a program of instructionsexecutable by the digital processing apparatus to perform method stepsfor providing an image-based traffic information in a region having atleast one time-variant real entity, said method comprising the steps of:converting said time-variant real entity into a time-variant imagevector entity; generating an attribute-designating statement of thetime-variant image vector entity based on a traffic information so as toform a traffic state map; and transmitting said traffic state map to auser device via a communication network.
 44. A program storage devicereadable by a digital processing apparatus and tangibly embodying aprogram of instructions executable by the digital processing apparatusto perform method steps for providing an image-based traffic informationin a region having at least one time-variant real entity, said methodcomprising the steps of: converting said time-variant real entity into atime-variant image vector entity; generating an attribute-designatingstatement of the time-variant image vector entity based on a trafficinformation so as to form a traffic state map; converting a plurality oftime-invariant real entities into a plurality of time-invariant imagevector entities, wherein said plurality of time-invariant real entitiesare also included in the region; forming at least one basic map usingsaid plurality of time-invariant image vector entities; forming atraffic information map which includes at least said traffic state map;and transmitting said traffic information map to a user device via acommunication network.
 45. A method for displaying an image-basedtraffic information comprising the steps of: receiving a trafficinformation map which includes at least a traffic state map, saidtraffic state map includes a plurality of time-variant image vectorentities in a specified region and each of the time-variant image vectorentity includes an attribute-designating statement, an shape-designatingstatement and a position-designating statement; displaying a first imagein accordance with a basic map on a screen, said basic map including aplurality of time-invariant image vector entities in the specifiedregion; and displaying a second image in accordance with said trafficstate map such that said second image is cumulatively displayed on thefirst image.
 46. A program storage device readable by a digitalprocessing apparatus and tangibly embodying a program of instructionsexecutable by the digital processing apparatus to perform method stepsfor displaying an image-based traffic information, said methodcomprising the steps of: receiving a traffic information map whichincludes at least a traffic state map, said traffic state map includinga plurality of time-variant image vector entities in a specified regionand each of the time-variant image vector entity includes anattribute-designating statement, an shape-designating statement and aposition-designating statement; displaying a first image in accordancewith a basic map on a screen, said basic map includes a plurality oftime-invariant image vector entities in the specified region; anddisplaying a second image in accordance with said traffic state map suchthat said second image is cumulatively displayed on the first image.